Ladies, while that meme is hilarious (and truthful!), we’ve got to stop this! Yes, we women love to joke about the cost of beauty and the things we put ourselves through to look good, but headbands don’t come with a bottle of aspirin, nor should they. Believe it or not, you CAN achieve a cute puff without having to rock back and forth repeating “beauty is pain… beauty is pain…!” for some solace. This is a dangerous but definitely avoidable situation.

Temps are dropping and humidity wanes with each day. Due to these and other factors, many of us find it necessary to switch up our regimen a bit so our hair plays nice with whatever the weather may bring.

Here are just a few things you can try this Fall to make the best of the crisp, cool air that comes with the season: Use Heavier Oils/Butters

When I first began wearing my hair in its natural state, I thought using the same oils and things all-year-round would be fine. However, the lighter oils that I used in the summer (grapeseed, sweet almond, jojoba) to seal in moisture didn’t quite cut it in the cooler months. For me, they weren’t a strong enough “defense” against the low humidity air and my hair was feeling drier and drier. What to do?!

I understand… sometimes our hair needs a break or we may want to make life a bit easier by installing a weave. Thing is, while they can be cute, some of us forget that we actually have hair under there! O_O Some women (and I know this for a fact!) feel that once they slap that puppy on, they can just get up and go for months on end without giving any attention to the hair growing out of their scalp. No bueno, kids!

You MUST take care of your OWN hair, even especially when you were weaves and wigs. That closed-in environment can become a hotbed for bacteria and fungus! Leaving your hair to its own devices can lead to buildup of excessive dandruff and more serious issues like hair loss and infections.

Whether neatly patted down with every strand in place or finger-combed and slightly “undone”, the Afro will forever be a natural hair fave around these parts! Yes, I love my updos, twists and buns but I just adore the funkiness and downright FUN of wild-ish hair.

Stylist Frédérique of I Go by Frankie never fails with her effortless cloud of kinks to match her super eclectic fashion. When she throws a side part in that Afro… *swoon*. LOVE a side part!

“Shrinkage” has become a four-letter word within the natural hair community and, quite frankly, I fail to understand what the huge fuss is about. Phrases like “shrinkage is the devil” or “I hate shrinkage” show up in photo captions on social media daily, usually in hashtag form.

Why, girls… why?

Real Talk
Okay… I can see why we (as naturals) may not really care for shrinkage. We wanna show off our “real” length, or at least something close to it. I get it. Here’s the thing, though: it’s simply the nature of textured hair, people. It comes with the territory. It’s just what our hair does (how many ways can I say it?) and definitely not the worst thing that can happen! Some make comments in jest but then some seem genuinely upset that once some moisture touches their hair, they go from shoulder length to a Florida Evans type fro in seconds.

One of the most important accessories you’ll need this season is a nice, cozy hat. Wool is often the go-to option for obvious reasons. Even so, this über warm fabric can cause unwanted damage to your hair…

While they serve an important purpose, wool winter hats can cause breakage from friction. Ever have a wool turtleneck or scarf that you wore pretty often and notice later on that the hair at the nape of your head is thinning out? Mmhhmm… friction! Also, much like cotton, wool absorbs moisture from your hair… this, as we know, can eventually lead to breakage. So look for hats with satin or silk linings.

We’ve been talking much about how protective styles in conjunction with moisturizing and sealing can be most beneficial for your hair this fall. To keep the theme going, I thought I’d run down a few of the oils and butters I like to use to keep my hair in the best shape possible as the temps continue to drop.

As we get deeper into autumn, many of you may start thinking about putting your hair away in a long-term protective style like box braids, Havana Twists or possibly a crochet weave (aka crochet braids). Here are a few things things to keep in mind to get the most out of those styles and maintain the health of your hair. But first…

You’ve probably heard about how great essential oils are to use in your hair care regimen, like the fact that they help to stimulate blood flow in the scalp and therefore, hair growth. But, do you know how to use them?

Well, basically, before using them on your skin (which, of course, includes the scalp), they must be diluted in a carrier oil. These are the oils you may already use like Olive, Sweet Almond, Jojoba, Grapeseed and so on. While carrier oils are made from the fatty parts of fruit or plants and have a fairly mild scent, essential oils are more concentrated, extracted from the blossoms or leaves of plants and are normally quite aromatic. In fact, you probably use some of these for aromatherapy and massages for their soothing effect.

Have you ever felt like your hair growth has come to complete halt? Many of us have gone through this at one time or another in our natural hair journey. The fact is, your hair is always growing but you may not be retaining what’s grown. In other words, just as fast as it grows, it breaks, creating the illusion of stunted growth.

Here are five things to consider:

Lack of Moisture
Because our strands have twists, bends and curls, it’s much harder for the natural oil, sebum, to travel the entire length of the hair shaft from root to tip than it would for someone with naturally straight hair. So we need some help. On wash day, while my hair is slightly damp, I apply a leave-in then an oil or butter to seal that all in, giving special attention to the ends (since it’s the oldest part of the hair). I repeat every few days as necessary, especially if I’m wearing my hair out. Hair that is properly moisturized will have a nice elasticity to it and will be less likely to break, thereby allowing you to retain what you grow. Those whose hair may have low porosity may need extra help with steam or products that will help open up the cuticle to allow moisture in.

It’s no secret that choosing a good stylist can be hard work. For some, it takes years before they finally find someone who they can really trust with their hair. These five points should help you cut down on that search time… let’s hope!

Truisms for life in general, yes? I can’t help but think, though, how apropos this statement is with respect to a person’s individual natural hair journey. A “code of conduct”, if you will, for the natural hair community. You cannot truly enjoy your own beautiful natural hair if you’re steadily comparing yourself to others.

Now, in no way am I saying that admiring someone else’s hair means that you don’t love your own. But it’s one thing to look at someone in admiration and another to constantly wonder why someone’s hair is so awesome and yours isn’t. Follow what I’m saying? The more you compare, the more you stress and beat yourself up about the plight of your hair which may not even be a plight in the first place. Not only is this a counterproductive practice but it causes discouragement and frustration.

I totally get why many shy away from trimming. Hair shrinkage coupled with the fear of scissor-happy stylists make some naturals run the other way. When you’ve worked hard to achieve and maintain some length, you’re not tryna hear nothin’ bout no trim!

While quite a few naturals shudder at the sound of a pair of shears, others have come to grips with the fact that trims are, in fact, necessary for overall hair health. Yes! While some may not need one as often as others, they’re good for you! The question comes up, though, “how will I know when I need one?”

This natural hair stuff doesn’t have to be as difficult or as confusing as some might make it out to be. One way to keep from pulling out your hair in frustration is to keep a simple and consistent regimen, starting with a handful of products. In my experience, there are just a few basic things you really need to get you started on a decent regimen.Read On!>>>

I’ve seen and heard many a natural gal lament that their twist-outs or braid-outs never come out right. There are many things involved in getting the “perfect” outcome, but one thing that can help you achieve a decent look is this…

Yes, smoothing down the hair as you unravel your twists/braids with an oil will continue the process of sealing the cuticle (which should have started at the moisturizing stage) and give you a nice, clean look.

Keeping those edges or the hairline under control is an issue for many ladies whether natural, relaxed or somewhere in the middle. That particular area of our hair is super delicate, so we need to definitely Handle With Care!

Here are three things you can do to help those edges stay put!

(1) Avoid excessive brushing.
I know you want to be a member of #teamlaidedges but too much manipulation too often and you’re talkin’ possible traction alopecia on deck! For styles that require a slick and sleek look (usually an updo of some sort), after gathering all of your hair into the desired position, try using just your hands to smooth the very edges of your hair with your gel or edge taming product of choice. If you still feel a brush is necessary, use just a few soft strokes, follow up with your hands and tie your hair down with a silk/satin scarf for about 15 minutes or overnight to allow the style to set. Afterwards, your edges should be laaaaiiiiid! *snap*

We can spend a load on the latest thing to get THE perfect hair, but guess what? All those products, pills and hair potions can mean nothing if you lack consistency!

Yep. Finding the right products for your hair is only half the battle. Once you’ve got that together, it’s a good idea to figure out a regular schedule of washing, conditioning and moisturizing that works best for you, otherwise known as a regimen. YOU. Not your BFF or your favorite YouTuber. You! There’s no one strict rule for every natural as to the frequency of their regimen.

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The views expressed on curlynikki.com belong to the blogger Nikki Walton and do not necessarily reflect the views of advertisers, their affiliates or any of the brands discussed or featured on curlynikki.com.